Ok...so I was driving to work today and the entire ride was fine until about 5 min forom my work place. I was getting onto the highway and I got on it a little and it started bucking and lost all power. I couldn't get it to go past 2500 rpm. So I looked this up at work and I have come to find that this is called limp mode and when something is wrong it will go into this mode. So on the way to work it was doing this, but no Service engine light came on. So I was hoping maybe it would just resolve itself and at lunch i took it out and again same problem! So I immediately made an apt with the dealership. However the dealership called back twice saying they test drove it a few times and they can't find anything wrong...everything seems fine. So what do I do? I drove it and I KNOW something is wrong. I feel that if I pick it up it will only be a matter of time until this happens again....I need some advice. Thanks guys.

 

Its very unusual but it happens. Without a CEL and code there is no diagnostics just wild guesses.

 

I know...but it happened twice. So it doesn't seem like its just going to go away. I figured the dealer would be able to properly diagnose this. When I purchased it, a AEM intake was installed. So I was thinking maybe something to do with that/ But I don't know.....I just want the problem to be remedied.

 

Sounds familiar

https://my350z.com/forum/maintenance-and-repair/347834-car-died.html

Let us know how it works out. I definitely feel for ya!

 

Thanks man....so you just took out your intake and cleaned the maf sensor? I thought of doing that...it looks like I'll have to as no relief from the dealer. They didn't even look at it. They took it for a couple of quick drives and said everything seemed ok. I don't know how they keep their jobs. My grandma could have done that. They need to start looking at some things that could potentially be the problem. I think I'll put in an application at the dealership just to be a smart ***....

 

Yep, I put the OEM filter back on and sprayed off the MAF. I knew it was likely the culprit since the car was running just fine (still is), and I just oiled it about 2 months ago.

I also noticed some liquid around the bottom of the filter. My guess is the recent temp increase + the highway speeds brought this on.

 

You did not mention that. 90 percent probability that is your problem.

 

I figured that could be it. Should I go with another intake then? Would the dealership put a factory intake back on it? It's not like the intake is really doing much performance wise....so I would have no trouble getting rid of it. But I do not have the original parts unfortunately.

 

2,500 around 11-13 mph right? And you get a huge bucking feel. Or something like a rattle right?

i've had this happen to me before scared the crap out of me. But it was right after I was doing a little canyon racing, cause no MIL came.

I dont know what the dealership did exactly, but they said they had to adjust the rear end or something of the short. Dealership said it was "loose" which made no sense, cause specifically what is read end?

 

S-c-a-r-y.

 

Syndacit...I don't think that is the problem with mine. It has happened a couple times. So it's not an all the time thing...sometimes it drives fine. The couple of instances it has happened have been when I have "gotten on it". I'm pretty sure it has been in 3rd gear both times. It gets to about 4000 rpm and then it bucks like a **** and puts itself in limp mode until I shut the car off. It's at the dealership right now....but I'm really not too optimistic about what they'll be able to do.

 

Ok....so after having my car for two days, the dealership couldn't find a thing wrong with it. So now I have to pay them for basically doing nothing. So now I'm going to be half afraid to drive the thing when I go to pick it up. I'm going to try cleaning the MAF sensor...hopefully that will help. Maybe the problem will just solve itself. I somehow don't think so though, and I find it very disheartening that I'm pretty much on my own with this issue.

 

If it makes you feel any better, you're not alone. The exact same thing happened to me yesterday. Everything was fine. I made a stop for a few minutes. Started up and began driving, and the thing bucked and sputtered like there was no tomorrow. This happened at ~2500 rpm in any gear (including standing still in neutral).

I *carefully* drove to the dealer. The tech started it up and it was fine. He took it for a spin. No problems. It seems normal for me today. Darn scary though.

The stop I made was not at a gas station or car wash. No warning lights came on. My car is 100% stock. I really hope this is not the start of an ongoing problem.

 

Mine just went into limp mode when I started it up after installing some POP chargers... haven't reset it yet.... will let you guys know what happens... but this is not cool...

 

so....is the car always in limp mode if the engine light is on? mine have been on for two years since i have test pipes